Episcopal Insider
St. Mark's Campus
November 15, 2024
All Campuses
Grandparents’ Day 2025-2026 will be held the first week of November 2025. Specific dates and times will vary by campus. Details will be updated as the school year begins.
Complete updates by September 1 to ensure grandparents receive all communications including the Grandparents’ Day invitation mailing that will provide them with additional details for each campus.
To update grandparent information in My ESJ:
Log in to the My ESJ Parent Portal
Click on “Update My Profile” located under My Tools
Click on “Grandparent Households” to update their information
New This Week
The next St. Mark’s Campus Book Club Meeting coincides with the Anxious Generation Panel Discussion in the Lori Schiavone Commons on November 19 at 8:15 am. The club will attend the panel and stay for a 30-minute discussion of Good Inside Chapters 6–10 (wrapping up around 9:45 a.m.). Everyone is welcome to participate, even if they have not read the book.
On Friday, February 7, 2025—just one day before the W.W. Gay Ortega River Run— all faculty, staff, and students are invited to wear their Ortega River Run shirts.
When you register for either the one-mile or five-mile race, you will receive a complimentary short-sleeve shirt.
Toddler, adult long-sleeve, and adult tank shirts are also available by following the link below:
Order deadline = January 8, 2025
Reminders
2024-2025 Important Upcoming Calendar Dates
- May 16 – Chapel in the Park
- May 16 – Moms’ Night Out
- May 16 – Uniform Recycle Event (7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
- May 20 – Field Day
- May 21 – Splash Into Summer
- May 21 – Fifth Farewell Reception
- May 22 – Fifth Grade Celebration Ceremony (9:00 a.m., Church)
- May 23 – Trimester 3 Ends
- May 23 – Early Dismissal (Noon). Eagle Afternoon Program Closed.
- May 26-30 – Memorial Day and Post-Planning – School and Extended Day Closed
- June 2 – First week of Camp Create
Episcopal School of Jacksonville, St. Mark’s Campus is fortunate to have a JSO field office, called a “Stop Station,” located adjacent to the school. To thank police officers for their service to the community, ESJ, St. Mark’s Campus is holding a Stop Station snack drive.
Collecting Snacks November 11-19
Drop off items in bins will be located by Little Loop, Main Carpool, and the School Office.
Snack Suggestions:
- Individually bagged chips
- Individually bagged mixed nuts/trail mix
- Individually bagged pretzels
- Kind bars
- Granola Bars
- Small chocolates
- Individually bagged Chex Mix
- Individually packaged peanuts
- Individually packaged almonds
- Individually packaged crackers
- Bottled water
- Hot tea packets
- K cups for Keurig
Supporting Young People in Our Digital Age
Episcopal School of Jacksonville Lower School parents are invited to attend a panel discussion on The Anxious Generation: Supporting Young People in Our Digital Age, addressing the impacts of mental health issues, pressure, and technology on today’s youth and exploring how parents and the school community can respond.
Tuesday, November 19
8:15 a.m.
Lori Schiavone Commons
Panel discussion led by:
- Dr. Elise Fallucco, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, ESJ Director of Health, Safety, and Well-Being
- Amy Burrows Perkins ‘92, LMHC, ESJ Director of Student Services
- The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School
The W.W. Gay Ortega River Run is February 8, 2025! Don’t miss one of the biggest fundraisers and friendraisers for ESJ, St. Mark’s Campus, benefiting the school’s financial aid program.
Register before November 30 to secure the best rate of the year!
Each month, first – fifth grade students are recognized by peers and teachers for demonstrating qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit that the Apostle Paul writes about in his letter to the church in Galatia. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23. Parents are welcome to attend these afternoon gatherings, as they are all Chapels and gatherings.
Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m.
Lori Schiavone Commons
- May 14 – Fruit of Self-Control Gathering
Pre-K 3—Grade 5 students receive a book for their birthday that is added to the Steve Williams Library Collection. Please be on the lookout for an email from Mrs. Trumpler regarding book selection. After a special bookplate is placed in the book, it will be blessed at the Birthday Chapel. Your child will be the first person to check out the book, and we ask them to return it after reading it for a few weeks so other children can enjoy it! Please join us at their special birthday Chapel.
8:25 a.m.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
April and May Birthdays
- April 14 (Grades 1-5)
- April 23 (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
Episcopal is closed from November 25 – 29 for Thanksgiving Break. Holiday Care is available on November 25 and 26 with advanced registration. Please contact Betsy Porter at Porterb@testing-phlexon.online with questions related to Holiday Care.

